Finding hope through laughter

The moment something terrible happens in our lives, especially losing a loved one, the last thing we would want or even think of doing is laughing. There is nothing funny about it. And no one who visits us will attempt to make us laugh, it just isn’t appropriate.

But there is a moment, maybe a day or two later, maybe a week or even a month later, where we get that first smile on our face or a chuckle from inside that stirs something within us. The moment we break free (and maybe only for that moment) from tears of sadness and put a genuine smile on our face, hope has a chance.

I remember sitting in the hospital after Briela passed away and I was looking through a Hope Book that my dad had printed out for me. It’s a book filled with hopeful verses and quotes to lift the heavy-hearted. I ran into a meme that seemed completely out of place. It was this…

What did this have to do with hope and finding peace? Well, believe it or not, this picture served its purpose. The randomness of it caught me off guard and actually made me laugh out loud. It was such a refreshing moment that it reminded me of the importance of laughter in hard times.

Laughter lifts the spirit. It momentarily takes the heavy weight off our shoulders and lets hope seep in. Once we allow hope to seep in and we begin to believe that life has not ended but that God actually has a lot in store for us, joy can then take root in our lives.

I would encourage anyone who is having difficulties with finding happiness in life outside of their reason for grief, to intentionally seek out things that will give your soul some much needed rest in the heaviness-department; something that will make you laugh. Watch a comedy, ready a funny book, anything that might stir a different emotion out of you. And don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a time to mourn and grieve, but there is also a time to laugh! (see Ecclesiastes 3:4)

This may seem completely inappropriate to some, but for my husband and I, we found great joy in knowing that the enemy had failed. Yes, our daughter did die, but our spirits were not crushed. We fully believe we lost our daughter due to the enemies schemes, and we believe it was his plan to draw us apart and destroy the relationship we had with God. Little did he know that our marriage would be strengthened, and the relationship with our Father would become greater than it had ever been. Our little girl is in heaven, and will never have to suffer any type of pain that life on earth may bring. As far as the spirit realm goes, that sounds like a victory to me!

As believers, I believe it is important for us to choose to keep our eyes on God. There is hope through Him. Where there is hope, there is joy. Where there is joy, there is laughter. Where there is laughter, there is healing.

Being joyful is not a matter of personality. It’s a godly mindset. We need to establish a stronghold of joy in our lives to be victorious in trying times. Where there’s not hope for the future there is no power for the present. When we have abounding hope, it propels us into the things that God has for us.

Steve Backlund – Abounding Hope

I just want to throw a few verses out that may spark some inspiration or encouragement regarding laughter in hard times:

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more. Job 8:21-22.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. Job 8:21

…a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4

Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Luke 6:21

A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one’s strength. Proverbs 17:22

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 5:3-4

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10